Tag: Kunming

China (Beijing, Yunnan and Sanya), 4 April to 27 April 2010, placeholder and links

We were very keen to see a rural and scenic part of China; Yunnan seemed to fit the bill. We’d see interesting places.

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We’d meet interesting people.

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There would be opportunities to do some wonderful walks.

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We could stay in high quality hotels; unlike our fascinating but hardy experience in Tibet eight years earlier. Steppes East put together an excellent itinerary for us – here it is available for download: Harris – Final itin dep 4 Apr 2010.

We took some great pictures, divided into three albums:

One good story is already up and available – an unexpected cricket match between Tibet and England, with me representing England.  The match was also reported in excruciating detail on King Cricket, a few weeks after the event.

As usual, there are loads of notes waiting to be written up properly. If you are desperate to see them and try to decipher them before I get there – feel free to download and have a go:

 

China (Beijing, Yunnan and Sanya), Zhongdian To Sanya Via Kunming, 18 April 2010

Rose reasonably early to complete packing.

Took breakfast and await a transfer. Said goodbye to Huang, then just about avoided scrum at Zhongdian Airport, said goodbye to Palchen and waited in tacky first class lounge.

Met by Simon in Kunming, with whom we went to the Bamboo Temple (amazing statues et cetera)…

…and then on for a Muslim restaurant meal with Yunnan duck, chicken hotpot with asendo[?] ginseng, greens and rice…which Simon thought to be inadequate!

Meanwhile Mrs Fixit was checking us in at the airport early and on the phone a few times.

Returned to airport, said goodbye to Simon and (after a 20-25 minute delay) flew to Sanya arriving about 15 minutes late.

Silent but efficient driver whisked us to the Banyan Tree where they only half expected us but never mind.

Bualeers [can I read my own writing?] in villa – no doubt we’ll change room tomorrow!

I only remember that villa seeming small but no doubt there were other things wrong with it. Janie can’t remember either.

There is a placeholder and links piece for this trip, with links to all the photographs, the full itinerary and stuff – click here for that.

China (Beijing, Yunnan and Sanya), From Kunming To Dali, 7 April 2010

Rose early for long drive to Dali. Struggled (failed) to get ready “on time” but eventually checked out and headed for Dali.

Bye bye Kunming

Said goodbye to Martin and said hello to May Chan (Zzway Caarn – not tribal) who seems more laid-back.

Settled in [hotel] room briefly then out for compulsory lunch and a stroll around Dali.

Lunch was beef, chicken, spring roll and special request veg soup – a lot of the highlight.

Oh boy, do I go with the furnishings!

Strolled small town Dali – bought CD, saw city walls…

…went to teahouse the full works bought lots of tea.

Organised local meal, then back to base for rest.

Evening in Dali was fun. Meal of papaya chicken, local carp in local source, water convolvulus and rose omelette.

Strolled town, bought map and then relaxed with half bottle of wine (after struggle to open!) in room.

There is a placeholder and links piece for this trip, with links to all the photographs, the full itinerary and stuff – click here for that.

China (Beijing, Yunnan and Sanya), Touring In & Around Kunming, 6 April 2010

Ged rose early and wrote up.

Fine breakfast early – then off to flower market on outskirts of town– Cheung Gong.

Next on to the Stone Forest – took a lengthy stroll.

The alleged likenesses of stones to the Queen, Darth Vader, Homer Simpson etc were a little strained, but it was a lovely site – especially the quieter more distant bits of the forest (see headline picture and below) where the large Chinese tour groups don’t go!

…no-one ever had a brother like Martin…

Then a pit stop (mostly for the driver and increasingly excitable guide Martin).

Then on to a Yi village – Chi Shing – Martin is Yi whereas driver Guan is Bai.

Next on to the Yunnan National Arts Museum – more an antique shop than museum but very interesting on tribal cultures.

Home for some rest, watch the video, then out for a local meal at Derein’s Restaurant in a grand old house. Eel (Yunnan style), duck, oil veg and mushroom rice and local Shaoxing rice wine.

Martin left with some persuasion, still doing business on his mobile.

Enjoyed our evening together and stroll home around like et cetera passing clubs & bars on the way – decided on quiet evening in with cookies and veg.

There is a placeholder and links piece for this trip, with links to all the photographs, the full itinerary and stuff – click here for that.

China (Beijing, Yunnan and Sanya), Touring In Beijing Then On To Kunming, 5 April 2010

Both slept well.

Packed and took breakfast at DuGe – quirky & good in parts. Peppery sausages were nice.

Sophie met us and took us off to see the Olympic stadium (birds nest) and then on to Chinese medicine centre.

We met lecturer Doctor Hu (you couldn’t make it up) who told us all about it and insisted that Ged must be Shakespeare reincarnated.

Uncanny resemblance.

Dr Hu also arranged for some trainees to massage our feet and for an aged professor to tell us what ails us & sell us some very expensive Chinese medicine cocktails, which we politely declined.

Hardly able to walk now (okay I made up that last bit) we wandered to back to the car and headed off to 798 district – art complex formally factories.

Some very interesting some not so interesting but all a great atmosphere.

Took some refreshments at an outdoor café, then off to the airport.

First class flight Kunming – service excellent, food terrible.

Met by Martin “Mr Fixit” who insists I look like a movie star he cannot name – Lucien from Underworld – that’s Michael Sheen.

Kind words, Martin – in my dreams I look like him – click the picture to see the fandom wiki

Took us to surprisingly splendid Green Lake Hotel and even hung around to help us order our dinner.

Ate some local style pork and Cantonese chicken, gai lan and rice washed down with a very palatable Montepulciano.

There is a placeholder and links piece for this trip, with links to all the photographs, the full itinerary and stuff – click here for that.